What does it take to build a breaking movement in Ghana—and connect it across Africa?
In this episode of The Hip Hop African Podcast, we speak with Lyricx, founder of the Africa Breaking Academy and president of the Breaking Federation of Ghana. From learning dance moves on Accra’s beaches to organizing workshops, teaching in schools, and building international competitions, Lyricx shares how his passion became a commitment to creating opportunities for others.
We discuss the development of Ghana’s breaking scene and the AfroBreak International Championship, which brings dancers from across the continent together in Ghana. Lyricx explains his vision for Afro breaking: connecting breaking with African music, movement, and cultural identity while respecting the practitioners who built hip hop in the Bronx.
Our conversation also examines breaking’s Olympic debut and the funding, qualification, and institutional barriers that limit African dancers’ participation internationally. For Lyricx, greater visibility must come with sustained investment in training spaces, education, and opportunities to earn a living.
Throughout the interview, he returns to a central message: dancers should draw inspiration from their own environments and develop a style that reflects who they are.
In this episode:
- Lyricx’s journey from dancing for fun to building Ghana’s breaking community.
- The Africa Breaking Academy and the role of teaching in challenging stereotypes about hip hop.
- Building connections through the Afro Break International Championship.
- Collaborating with DJ TeckZilla to rework Ghanaian music for breaking.
- Exploring African cultural connections through his documentary, Roots of the Culture, and a developing theatre project.
- Breaking at the Olympics and the challenges of African representation.
- B-girls, women-led events, and the importance of visible role models.
- The need for training spaces, institutional support, and sustainable livelihoods.
- Why African breakers should cultivate their own identities and distinctive styles.
This is a conversation about more than competition. It is about community, cultural knowledge, and the work of building a future for African breaking.
This year the AfroBreak International Festival will take place in Accra in November. Check out their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/afrobreak_concepts/.
Connect with BBoy Lyricx
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bboy_lyricx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BboyLyricx